To keep Pa's energy revolution going, we need to expand pipelines: Another View

You can hop on the turnpike and travel across our diverse state, weaving through mountains and passing over rivers. That's the beauty of the Commonwealth -you never have to travel far to get from a big city to a small town and vice versa.

With such a diverse terrain and landscape, it's no wonder we have an economy that's equally as diverse. As we celebrate such diversity, it is important to recognize the role natural gas development has played in boosting the many different sectors of our state's economy.

The energy revolution in our state has created a sustainable boom in energy production - the Marcellus Shale is now the second leading producer of natural gas in the world and Pennsylvania is a national leader in other service industries that support energy development.

What's most extraordinary about this economic boom is that the benefits can be felt throughout the state.

Everyone from laborers in Pittsburgh to manufacturers in Philadelphia, to farmers and small businesses in Harrisburg are all reaping the direct and indirect benefits of increased access to affordable, reliable energy.

Even those across the state that live outside the shale region are enjoying lower, stable energy prices to help heat their homes and businesses - an important consideration as we head it another winter season.

As the presidents of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, and the Harrisburg Regional Chamber of Commerce & CREDC, we have seen firsthand both the far-reaching and long-lasting economic benefits of energy and infrastructure projects for our members.

To sustain this economic momentum, we need expanded pipeline capacity that can keep pace with our state's growing production.

Pipelines are the underground highways that transport energy resources safely and most efficiently across our state. But, we're facing the equivalent of a subterranean traffic jam as increasing volume and demand are overwhelming transport capacity.

The implications of that traffic jam are serious. If we're unable to keep up with production, our state's energy sector will be inhibited and our state risks missing out on the full economic opportunities these large-scale infrastructure projects provide.

And, these are the types of projects that have fueled employment in recent years.

Take, for example, the construction of the Mariner East underground pipeline projects, which will transport natural gas liquids across the state, from west to east, and could create an estimated 30,000 Pennsylvania jobs during construction and add $4.2 billion to the state's economy.

These ripple effects make a strong case for supporting construction of these projects.

The Mariner East projects, and others like it, will mean greater tax revenue and increased economic activity in forms of greater patronage of local garages, florists, restaurants, hotels, and farms. It's these indirect benefits that drive local economies.

These micro-economic benefits are welcome and substantial, and they are in addition to long-term opportunities to secure Pennsylvania's energy future through pipeline infrastructure investment.

And hard as it might be to imagine, most of that future is still in front of us. For this reason, Gov. Tom Wolf has established a Pipeline Infrastructure Taskforce to help guide the buildout of this critical infrastructure to capitalize on our state's energy resources and support or economic future.

It's important to note that any conversation about pipeline development must address concerns about safety and minimizing disruptions to landowners. But, pipelines are the safest and most efficient way to move energy resources according to federal and state statistical data.

With millions of miles of pipeline already transporting energy across this country and advancements in new technologies to make pipelines even safer, we can develop our economy while keeping our communities safe.

Nature has blessed Pennsylvania with natural resources that could strengthen our economy for generations to come.

And projects, like the Mariner East pipelines and the revitalization of the Marcus Hook Industrial Complex, which the Harrisburg Patriot-News/PennLive has featured, would provide us with an avenue for putting those resources to work.

Our state can once again become a regional energy hub given the right investments. It is time to invest in a safe and secure underground infrastructure network to carry Pennsylvania's energy resources.

Pipelines are the most dynamic opportunity we have to meet our state's diverse economic needs and we should move forward without delay.

Trish McFarland is president of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce; Jeff Kotula is president of Washington Chamber of Commerce, and David Black is president of Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC. All three are members of the Pennsylvania Energy Infrastructure Alliance.